Police bust betting racket inparked car; steel trader held

Nagpur: Sleuths of the crime branch busted a unique racket when they zeroed in on a steel trader, Pramod Marodkar, who was accepting bets for an IPL match in his parked car at Mangalmurti Chowk on Friday.
This is for the first time that a betting racket was busted in a parked car, despite the trend of bookies preferring to remain mobile in four-wheelers rather than operating from a spot which often leads to their easy arrest by the police with the cyber cell searching for their signals and locations.
Police said Marodkar's passion was cricket betting which he started as a punter but gradually turned to accepting bets as a bookie.
Marodkar was arrested when he was sharing the odds with his clients from a popular betting app. He confessed to turning a bookie and had engaged in the illegal activity full-time during the last world cup.
Marodkar was linked with another bookie, identified as Rakesh, who was monitoring and managing the operation from another hideout. Rakesh, who is yet to be arrested, has been made a co-accused in the case.
The crime branch unit of senior inspector Kamlakar Gaddime was instrumental in busting the racket under the supervision of DCP Rahul Maknikar. The raid was led by sub-inspector Vaibhav Barange, who seized the car in which Marodkar was found with three cellphones and other betting material.
Marodkar was later handed over to Nandanvan police. "We were regularly getting tip-offs regarding Marodkar operating from a car. He would move around the city, changing his locations frequently, but was under our watch," said an official.